The Supreme Court was on Thursday informed that a first information report was filed on a witness’ complaint that he was threatened with consequences and offered a bribe not to testify in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case involving former Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra, Live Law reported.

The Uttar Pradesh Police told the court that the statement by Baljinder Singh, the witness, was recorded and that the case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to threatening a person to give false evidence, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy.

In August, the court had questioned the police for failing to look into the witness’ complaint and direct them to verify the allegations.

On June 20, Baljinder Singh filed a written complaint alleging that an unidentified person offered him Rs 1 lakh and threatened him with consequences if he testified in the case, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the complainant, told the court in August.

Bhushan added that despite the written complaint, no FIR had been registered.

The police reportedly claimed that Singh had not appeared in person, which is why the FIR was not filed.

The court said that the explanation was unsatisfactory and directed the police to depute a senior police officer to verify the complaint.

On Thursday, the court was informed that an officer of the deputy superintendent of police rank had verified the allegations on September 19 following which a case of witness intimidation was registered, Live Law reported.

The case was filed at the Paduwa police station on October 4 and names Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra and two other persons, The Indian Express reported.

Separately, on Mishra’s request, the bench also allowed him to visit Lakhimpur Kheri for Diwali, Live Law reported.

The main case pertains to the death of eight persons, including four farmers, in October 2021 as violence broke out after a vehicle allegedly belonging to Ashish Mishra ran over a group of demonstrators.

The violence had taken place in Lakhimpur Kheri district during a protest against the Union government’s farm laws that were later repealed.

In July 2024, Ashish Mishra was granted bail by the Supreme Court but he was only allowed to stay in Delhi or Lucknow. In May, the bail conditions were relaxed to allow him to visit Lakhimpur Kheri every Saturday evening and return to Lucknow on Sunday, Live Law reported.

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